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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – I don’t believe anything the government tells me. They are always lying. If that is your belief about pesticide residue on food, there is little anyone can say to convince you otherwise. If, however, you would actually like to know more about pesticides and food, keep reading.
Pesticide residue on fruits and vegetables is a big, scary topic filled with emotional reasons why you should or should not buy certain foods. Every year the Environmental Working Group (EWG) publishes the Dirty Dozen, 12 fruits and vegetables they claim have the highest pesticide levels. The 2018 list includes most of the commonly eaten produce in the US – strawberries, spinach, nectarines, apples, peaches, pears, cherries, grapes, celery, tomatoes, sweet bell peppers and potatoes. They recommend buying organic options for these foods.
Stripping away the emotional response to pesticides on foods, let’s just deal in facts.
Fact: Decades of research has shown that eating fruits and vegetables everyday, whether they are organically or conventionally grown, reduces your risk for cancer, heart disease, diabetes, obesity and premature death.
Fact: Contrary to what most people believe, over 100 different pesticides can be used by organic farmers. Organic farmers tend to use natural substances such as soaps, lime sulfur, neem oil, diatomaceous earth (a powder-like substance which is the fossilized remains of marine phytoplankton), and pepper. These pesticides are approved by the National Organic Program (NOP) which also allows about 25 synthetic pesticides for use by organic farmers such as alcohols, copper sulfate and hydrogen peroxide.
Myth: Buying organic fruits and vegetables because you believe they are pesticide free is false. The USDA Pesticide Data Program found that 23% of organic produce had pesticide residues, though none at an unsafe level. Organic produce may have less pesticide residues than conventional foods but in both cases the produce is safe.
Fact: A peer-reviewed analysis (scientific facts judged by outside experts) published in the Journal of Toxicology found the EWG followed no established scientific procedures for developing their Dirty Dozen list and the EWG has never disclosed their methodology for compiling this yearly list. The researchers also showed that a person’s exposure to the 10 most frequently detected pesticides on the EWG’s Dirty Dozen list were at negligible levels. They concluded that substituting organic fruits and vegetables for conventional varieties because of pesticide residue concerns, provided no health benefit.
Fact: Pesticide residues on foods in the US pose no health or safety concerns. The US food supply is one of the safest in the world.
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Each year the USDA, FDA and state agencies test foods for pesticide residue on a rotating basis, including fresh and processed fruits and vegetables and peanut butter.
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In 2015 FDA’s sampling data found 98% of all foods sampled had pesticide levels below tolerances set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and 50% had no detectable residue at all.
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The USDA Pesticide Data Program (PDP) had similar results – 99.8% had no detectable residues or were at levels below EPA tolerances.
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In California, where much of the country’s fruits and vegetables are grown, the Department of Pesticide Regulation’s annual sampling program found 97% of produce had residues below EPA tolerances and 40% had no detectable residue at all.
Fact: EPA is required to periodically re-evaluate pesticide registrations and tolerances to be sure that the scientific data is up to date and they regulate pesticides under three Federal laws.
Given all these facts, what is truly sad is that our fruit and vegetable consumption is still too low and many people avoid eating these healthy foods because of unfounded fears of pesticides. Two studies, one from John Hopkins and another from the Illinois Institute for Technology showed that negative safety messages were discouraging people from eating fruits and vegetables. Low income shoppers were most likely to avoid all produce based on negative messaging. Perhaps buying organic produce was not an alternative due to higher costs.
Bottom line: Since all health experts universally agree that eating fruits and vegetables every day leads to better health and a longer life, it is important that people lean more about the federal and state pesticide sampling programs that are in place to ensure that the food we eat is safe.
© NRH Nutrition Consultants, Inc.
Jo-Ann Heslin, MA, RD, CDN is a registered dietitian and the author of 30 books. Available as eBooks from iTunes and Kindle/Amazon:
Diabetes Counter – the most up-to-date information on managing diabetes
Calorie Counter – a weight loss guide that won’t let you down
Protein Counter – put the latest protein recommendations to work for you
Healthy Wholefoods Counter – planet-friendly eating made easy
Complete Food Counter – food counts and nutrition information at your fingertips
Fat and Cholesterol Counter – newest approach to heart-healthy eating
Available in print from Gallery Books:
Most Complete Food Counter, 3rd Ed.
Your Complete Food Counter App: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/your-complete-food-counter/id444558777?mt=8
For more information on Jo-Ann and her books, go to: www.TheNutritionExperts.com.